Merchandise dispenser



L 15, 1940. ca. s. VIUNEYARD 2,213,444

MERCHANDISE DISPENSER Filed April 11, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. v GeoreSVz'neyard BY 0 I 4' ATTORNEY.

Oct. 15. 1940. G. SQVINEYARD 2,218,444

MERCHANDISE DISPENSER Filed April 11, 4938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Y K 1 k\\\\ I 4 4 INVENTOR.

' George 6. Wneyard I v BY 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 15, 1940 e 4 2,218 444 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE a a l I 2,218,444

MERCHANDISE DISPENSER George S. Vineyard, Amarillo, Tex.

Application April 11, 1938, Serial No. 201,445

7Claims. (01211-49) This invention relatesto an improvement in With more detailed reference to Fig. 1 of the dispensingmerchandise, and more particularly to drawings, the numeral 1 represents a trough or the dispensing of bottled milk or other bottled chute which is held in elevated position at one goodsfrom refrigeratorcompartments, and the 4 end by means of an adjustable support 8. The

like. support 8 is preferably U-shaped with the sides 5 When placed in a compartment of a refrigerathereof embracing an end of the trough 1 and tor, bottled milk becomes somewhat inaccessible provided with slots 9 therein to receive bolts I!) after the first few bottles have been removed for adjusting said end to the proper operating from the front ofthe compartment. This is parlevel and to hold the trough in the desired adticularly true of a compartment near the floor justed position. The trough l is preferably a 10 and of other compartments having relatively litlongchute havin indented ribs l2 in the bottom tle space between the tops ofthe bottles and the thereof, and similar ribs [3 in the sides thereof, shelf next above. to receive and guide bottles or the like standing The present. invention overcomes all of these in the trough and placed upon ribs I2, which ribs disadvantages in dispensing milk from refriger- I2 and I3 are preferably of V-formation so as to 5 ated compartments, inasmuch as the milk is reduce the friction between the bottles and the placed in an inclined chute, placed with the front ribs. The ribs I2 form tracks for the bottles, lower end just inside the refrigerator door, and while the ribs I3, being in the sides, form guides as the foremost bottle is ,removed the other therefor. This construction allows a minimum bottles inthe chute slide gentlyforward succesamount of friction and permits the bottles to 20 sively, thus, providing bottles at the forward, end slide freely but gently forward along the trough of the chuteuntil the latteris emptied. with a very small incline thereof.

This dispensing chute may be supported on legs A guard l l extends transversely acrossthe forto set on the floor of the refrigerator compartward end of the trough, being curved transverse- 5 ment or it maybe suspended by means of achain 1y thereof, to form a stop for the bottles. To from the shelf above to provide a gentle incline, prevent the trough from slipping out of place in so thatythe bottles will slide gently forward as the refrigerator compartment, prongs I4 are prothe foremost bottle is removed. vided on the forward end thereof to engage the It istobeunderstood that while the drawings bottom of the compartment and thus hold the illustrate a preferred embodiment .of this inventrough in proper dispensing position. 30

tion, with modifications thereof, but the device Fig. 2 shows the device installed in a refrigermaybe used for dispensing any typeof merchanator compartment designated generally by the dise for which it is adapted and that the design numeral I5, with the bottles of milk l6 positioned may be varied to meet particular needs and rein the trough or chute. Frequently bottles of quirements, within the scope of the appended milk are placed in a bottom compartment of a claims without departing from the spirit thereof. refrigerator where they are inaccessible, espe- 35 In the accompanying drawings: l r cially at the back thereof. By providing this im- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred emproved chute therefor and inclined sufficiently bodiment of the invention showing a stand which for forward sliding of the bottles therein, the botallows for varying the inclination of the dispenstles will be accessible always at the front of the 40 r; compartment. The dotted outline of the upper- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view most bottle shows how the bottles will slide downof a refrigerator showing the dispensing unit inward as the foremost one is removed. stalled in the lower compartment thereof; The trough may be provided with holes l8 in Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through the the sides thereof to receive hooks or links [9 for 45 trough showing a modified form of support thereengaging a chain 20 which makes it possible to for, substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 6; suspend the device from the shelf l5 of the re- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of acne-piece modifrigerator by extending over portions of the shelf, fied form of trough with a portion broken away to as shown in Fig. 3. In this manner the device 5 show the construction; may be used in a refrigerator even though the Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank for forming bottom is uneven or where the bottom of the said trough; and compartment is insecure and it is desired to sup- Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the port the trough from above. lower portion of a refrigerator showing the modi- The modified form of chute, shown in Figs. 4

5 fied form of support. 4 l and 5, is quite similar to that shown in Fig. 1, ex-

Prongs 26 are also formed from the material to provide anti-slipping engagement. The end wall 21 is turned up to form a stop at the forward end of the trough and has struck-out tabs 23 to hold a price tag 29.

I claim:

1. A dispenser comprising an elongated trough having a bottom and upstanding sides with lengthwise extending ribs indented in the bottom and sides thereof, prongs formed on the forward end of the bottom in positions to engage in a supporting surface, a guard attached to the sides at the last mentioned end and extending trans versely of the trough in position to form a barrier for articles therein, and a substantially U-shaped stand having the sides thereof connected with the sides of the trough at the opposite end thereof for supporting the trough in an inclined position for downward sliding movement of articles therein by gravity.

2. A bottle dispenser comprising an elongated chute having a bottom constructed of sheet metal with upstanding longitudinal indented ribs adjacent apposite sides thereof on which the bottles are adapted to be supported, said chute having side rails extending along opposite sides thereof spaced laterally from the ribs, a front guard attached at its opposite ends to the side rails and extending transversely therebetween at the front end of the chute, and a support at the rear end of the chute holding said rear end in an elevated position relative to the front end for downward sliding movement of the bottles in the trough by gravity.

3. A bottle dispenser comprising an elongated chute having a bottom constructed of sheet metal with integral upturned opposite sides at opposite edges of said bottom, said bottom and sides having longitudinal indented ribs therein for guiding the bottles, a front guard attached at its opposite ends to the side walls and extending transversely therebetween at the front end of the chute, and a support at the rear end of the chute holding said rear end in an elevated position relative to the front end for downward sliding movement of the bottles in the trough by gravity.

4. An article dispenser comprising an elongated chute having a bottom constructed of sheet metal with upstanding longitudinal indented ribs adjacent opposite sides thereof adapted to receive articles, said chute having side walls extending along opposite sides thereof spaced laterally from the ribs, a front guard attached at its opposite ends to the sidewalls and extending transversely therebetween at the front end of chute, and a support secured beneath the rear end of the chute holding said rear end in an elevated position relative to the front end for downward sliding movement of the articles in the trough by gravity.

5. An article dispenser comprising an elongated chute having a bottom constructed of sheet metal with upstanding longitudinal indented ribs adjacent opposite sides thereof adapted to receive articles, said chute having side walls extending along opposite sides thereof spaced laterally from the ribs, a front guard attached at its opposite ends to the side walls and extending transversely therebetween at the front end of the chute, and a support secured beneath the rear end of the chute holding said rear end in an elevated position relative to the front end for downward sliding movement of the articles in the trough by gravity, and prongs secured to the front end of the bottom in positions to engage in a supporting surface.

'6. A bottle dispenser comprising an elongated chute having a bottom constructed of sheet metal with upstanding longitudinal indented ribs adjacent opposite sides thereof on which the bottles are adapted to be supported, said chute having side rails extending along opposite sides thereof spaced laterally from the ribs, a front guard attached at its opposite ends to the side rails and extending transversely therebetween at the front end of the chute, a support at the rear end of the chute holding said rear end man-elevated position relative to the front end for downward sliding movement of the bottles in the trough by gravity, and prongs secured to the front end of the bottom in positions to engage in a supporting surface.

7. An article dispenser comprising an elongated chute having a bottom constructed-of sheet metal with upstanding longitudinal indented ribs adjacent opposite sides thereof adapted to receive articles, said chute having side walls extending along opposite sides thereof spacedlaterally from the ribs, and an end wall integral with the bottom and attached at its opposite ends to the side walls and extending transversely therebetween at the front end of the chute, anda support at the rear end of the chute holding said rear end in an elevated position relative to the front end for downward sliding movement of the articles in the trough.

GEORGE S. VINEYARD. 

